Benitez: Chelsea must be more clinical at home

The Blues' 4-0 victory over Stoke City was their sixth straight away win but the Spaniard is eager for a turnaround at Stamford Bridge, starting against Southampton on Wednesday

Interim Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez has urged his players to be more clinical in front of goal after struggling for wins at Stamford Bridge - starting from when they host Southampton on Wednesday.

The Blues have lost their last two matches at home without scoring, going down 1-0 to QPR before a 2-0 defeat to Swansea City, and the Spaniard wants to bring that standard up to their away showings.

"We are doing very well away but, at home, the other teams wait deep and we have less space," Benitez observed to reporters. "We are still creating chances but we have to be more clinical.

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"If we score goals and take our chances, it will be completely different because the other team will be more open but, if that's not the case, like it has been in the last two games, it becomes more difficult.

"When you play away and have space, with the players we have, they can make a big difference. When you play at home and there are 11 men behind the ball, you have to find space and be more precise. We know we have to do different movements.

"We have confidence we can do well, like we did against Aston Villa and Nordsjaelland. We've had games at home when we've done well but the last two games have been difficult and it's something we have to improve on."

After making his comeback from injury against Stoke City on Saturday, captain John Terry is fully fit for the Blues, Benitez confirmed, explaining: "He was training yesterday and today with the rest of the team. He is fine, he has to play games to improve his match fitness, but the sessions with the team will help.

"Oriol Romeu is still unavailable and we are still without the two players who are away at the Africa Cup of Nations [John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses]."

"I don't like to see the table every weekend," the Blues boss added of his side's 14-point deficit behind leaders Manchester United. "It's important for us to keep winning games and, if we can do that by playing well and scoring a lot of goals, that will be good for us.

The Spaniard would not rule out, meanwhile, the possibility of recalling on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku from West Brom earlier than intended, noting: "It's not easy. Lukaku went there and is doing well, it's part of his development, playing in the Premier League and getting experience.

"We will see, you never say never because something may happen tomorrow and you have a problem but at the moment the idea is for him to stay there and gain more experience."